Indianmandarins has learnt that a serious search is underway to find suitable candidates from private sector to man key economic ministries such as Telecom, DEA, Road, and Transport & Highways to name a few. This follows a Committee of Secretaries' recommendation favoring lateral entry into the civil service. Reportedly, the government has given an in-principle approval to the idea/proposal and a screening committee headed by Dr P K Mishra (Additional PS to PM) and P K Sinha, Union Cabinet Secretary, has been constituted. As pointed out by this website in an earlier report, exceptions are becoming normal and they have come to define the functioning of the NDA government. This new move on lateral entry is part of the exceptions. The appointment of P Parameshwaran Iyer (Ret IAS:1983:UP) was probably the first indication by the Government of its desire to facilitate 'Lateral entry into Secretary-rank posts'. Even after Iyer's entry, it was not perceived as a big deviation as Iyer, a former IAS officer, was well versed with the functioning of the Govt and had global exposure in the domain he was assigned to function. But things began to change after that. Take, for instance, the appointment of Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha (a private person and Chief Consultant, Chakrapani Ayurveda Clinic, Jaipur) on June 19 to the post of Special Secretary, Ministry of Aayush. It is learnt that once he would be well versed with the functioning of Govt of India, he may be declared as full-fledged secretary, Ayush. It is expected that by the end of this year, the administration may see more lateral entries in the rank of Secretary. Sources said the shortlisting of private sector executives or social workers would be through a matrix of experience and qualification, without taking into account their existing salaries. The final selection would be done by the committee headed Mishra and Sinha. The preliminary estimate is that around 40 individuals, including successful entrepreneurs, academicians, and social workers, would be taken in through lateral entry, mainly at the joint-secretary level where there is a dearth of officers. More officers may be inducted at the deputy secretary and director levels also. However, regulating ministries like Defense, home, etc may not fall within the purview of this major policy shift. It is expected that by the end of this year, the administration may see many lateral entries in the rank of Secretary.